Bettor’s Guide: NFL Playoffs Divisional Round Picks, Point Spreads, Over-Under Odds and TV Schedule

My picks for the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs were a bit of a mixed bag. I nailed Sunday’s games, picking Baltimore and laying the point while also taking the points with the Packers. However, I got killed on Saturday, picking the Saints to dominate the Seahawks and trusting the Colts to win by a field goal or more.

My 2-2 record from last week brings my overall record for the season to 133-105-8, or you can keep them separate if you like. Ultimately it doesn’t really matter I suppose. Looking back is for fools; stats are for losers, right Raheem Morris?

Let’s get on with the picks for the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs, where there are some absolutely great matchups awaiting us.

A couple of quick things to keep in mind:

• All times are ET.
• TV schedule info courtesy of our friends at Fang’s Bites
• All spread info as of Monday. If you want updated point spread info, or some expert advice as you make your weekly picks, below are a few helpful links.
• DocSports: NFL Odds
• DocSports: NFL Picks

And with all that said, here are your picks, point spreads, and over-under odds for each of the four games to be played during the Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs.

NFL Playoffs Bettor’s Guide – Divisional Round

Picks – Point Spreads – Over-Under Odds – TV Schedule

Free Picks Against the Spread (ATS) – Announcer Assignments

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Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

• Ravens-Steelers Date, Time, and TV: Saturday, January 15th at 4:30 on CBS
• Ravens-Steelers Announcers: Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf
• Ravens-Steelers Point Spread: Steelers -3
• Ravens-Steelers Over-Under Odds: 36.5
• Ravens-Steelers Spread Pick: This is the most obvious point spread in the world. These two teams are evenly matched and every game they play comes down to a field goal. The odds makers are handing Pittsburgh a three point advantage for being at home, and it’s exactly what it should be. My initial gut reaction is to take the Ravens +3 as the safe pick. They are coming off a huge win versus Kansas City and the team of Joe Flacco and John Harbaugh are not fazed by going on the road in the playoffs. However, the Steelers are rested while the Ravens have a short week, and now that we are in the Ravens’ 18th game of the season, that could have an impact down the stretch. With Troy Polamalu back to solidify the Steelers defense, Flacco won’t find the going nearly as easy as it was against Kansas City. I think this will be a great game, but I’ve got this gnawing feeling telling me to take Pittsburgh and lay the three. I don’t feel good about it, and I wouldn’t bet this game with even a quarter of my own money, but I’m taking the Steelers. Ravens-Steelers free pick: Steelers -3

Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons

• Packers-Falcons Date, Time, and TV: Saturday, January 15th at 8:00 on FOX
• Packers-Falcons Announcers: Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
• Packers-Falcons Point Spread: Falcons -2
• Packers-Falcons Over-Under Odds: 45.5
• Packers-Falcons Spread Pick: Last week, I was supremely confident that Green Bay was going to win in Philadelphia. I was shocked when I saw that the Packers were actually getting 2.5 points, considering how each team was playing heading into the playoffs. Needless to say, I’m not quite so enthralled about taking the Packers here, against the best home team in the NFL. However, I’m doing it. The reason is that the Packers are clicking right now. I don’t think they will be able to run the ball nearly as well this week as they did against Philly, but it may not matter. Aaron Rodgers is playing excellent football, and he and the Packers wide receivers (I’m looking at you James Jones) actually left a decent amount of points out on the field last week. I know that Atlanta is rested, and I know that Matt Ryan is great at home, and I know that Green Bay is coming off a short week like Baltimore is. I don’t care. I believe in the Packers right now, and they have the look of a team that got hot at the right time and could roll right through the playoffs. Give me the Packers and the points for a second straight week, and understand this: whoever wins this game is going to the Super Bowl. Packers-Falcons free pick: Packers +2

Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears

• Seahawks-Bears Date, Time, and TV: Sunday, January 16th at 1:00 on FOX
• Seahawks-Bears Announcers: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa
• Seahawks-Bears Point Spread: Bears -10
• Seahawks-Bears Over-Under Odds: 40
• Seahawks-Bears Spread Pick: Well, I had egg all over my face on Saturday after picking the Saints to roll over the then-hapless Seahawks. And then Marshawn Lynch went into full beast mode, Matthew Hasselbeck played like Joseph Montana, and Pete Carrol was hopping around like a schoolgirl who just got asked to prom. That, ladies and gentlemen, is the recipe for success for the Seahawks. This week, I don’t like that big numbers again. It screwed me last week, and I just cannot see myself laying 10 points with the Bears, a team that only got a bye because of a horrible blown call in Week 1 and because they faced a string of backup and third-team QBs in the middle of the season. Is Chicago good? Yes. Are they great? No. And while I know that Seattle is not a good team away from Qwest Field, they do have momentum. Plus, there is the ever-present possibility of a Jay Cutler meltdown. Add it all up and I’m playing it safe here. Seahawks-Bears free pick: Seahawks +10

New York Jets at New England Patriots

• Jets-Patriots Date, Time, and TV: Sunday, January 15th at 4:30 on CBS
• Jets-Patriots Announcers: Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
• Jets-Patriots Point Spread: Patriots -8.5
• Jets-Patriots Over-Under Odds: 45.5
• Jets-Patriots Spread Pick: Very tricky spread here from the oddsmakers. The Jets won the first meeting between these two teams, but that was a totally different Patriots team. Randy Moss was still the #1 WR then. (Damn that was a while ago.) In the second meeting, the Jets might as well have been the Panthers, as New England rolled 125-3, or something like that. In this game, I think it will be more like Game 2 than Game 1. New England is rolling right now, and the Jets still are a flawed team. Mark Sanchez makes plays in the 2nd halves of games, but if he can’t put together 4 good (not average, but good) quarters, then I don’t think New York can keep up with Tom Brady, who has played out of his mind the last two months. I hate laying this many points when it’s division rivals playing, but I’m just not impressed enough with the Jets to think they’ll have New England figured out enough come Sunday to make it a game. Jets-Patriots free pick: Patriots -8.5

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